Swearing-in date for New Jersey’s new senator uncertain

Wednesday’s special election means the tenure of interim U.S. Sen. Jeff Chiesa’s service in Washington is nearly over — though how soon it will end is still sort of up in the air.

Chiesa is due in Lakewood on Thursday for what’s ostensibly a “welcome home” fund-raiser for the Republican State Committee. But he won’t be home quite yet, given that important votes related to the federal debt ceiling may be held before Cory Booker or Steve Lonegan get the green-light from the state to be sworn into Congress.

All the state Division of Elections can say about its post-election timetable is that the results will be certified by the Board of State Canvassers on or before Nov. 13, four weeks away, as required by law.

The date might depend on how close the election is: Voting machines are to be impounded until as late as Halloween, which is also the date for recount applications to be filed.

Michael Drewniak, spokesman for Gov. Chris Christie, tells my colleague Martha Moore of USA Today that although Nov. 13 is the statutory deadline for certifying the election, “The winner of Tuesday’s election will be sworn in as quickly as possible after the results have been verified and certified. We fully anticipate this to happen before the November 5th election day.’’’’

If this was the House, it wouldn’t be necessary for Congress to wait that long. Last year, a special election was held in the 10th Congressional District on Nov. 6 to complete the unexpired term of the late U.S. Rep. Donald Payne. His son, Donald Payne Jr., won that election (as well as one for a full two-year term) that day and was sworn into office on Nov. 15, nine days later, based on the unofficial election returns as relayed to Congress by the state.

From that day’s timeline of House floor activities: “The House received a message from the Clerk. The Clerk transmitted to the House a scanned copy of a letter received from the Honorable Kimberly M. Guadagno, Lieutenant Governor/Secretary of State, State of New Jersey, indicating that, according to the unofficial returns of the Special Election held November 6, 2012, the Honorable Donald M. Payne Jr. was elected Representative to Congress for the Tenth Congressional District, State of New Jersey.”

That’s not good enough for the Senate, however.

Secretary of the Senate Nancy Erickson tells my colleague, Malia Rulon Herman of our Washington bureau, that the Senate requires the actual certified results, not unofficial ones. Once the certificate is received by the Senate, the swearing-in will be scheduled — probably pretty quickly, especially if Democrats regain a seat currently held by the Republican Chiesa — by Gary Myrick, the Senate’s Democratic secretary.

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About Michael Symons

Michael Symons has covered seven governors while working in Gannett's Statehouse Bureau -- a stint which actually only stretches back to 2000, but the door revolves quickly in New Jersey politics. He's co-author of the biography "Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power."

About the Authors

Bob JordanBob Jordan has covered state, county and muncipal governments for the past 10 years. He has also covered the gaming industry and has been a sports team beat writer for NHL, NBA and major league baseball teams.E-mail Bob

John SchoonejongenJohn Schoonejongen is state editor for Gannett New Jersey newspapers. He has reported and edited at New Jersey newspapers from Salem County to Passaic County, writing about everything from state politics to lost pigs on the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Born in Camden County, he still speaks with a southern New Jersey accent, much to his wife's annoyance.E-mail John

Michael SymonsMichael Symons has covered seven governors while working in Gannett's Statehouse Bureau -- a stint which actually only stretches back to 2000, but the door revolves quickly in New Jersey politics. He's co-author of the biography "Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power."E-mail Michael